$36.0M
Recovery for a pedestrian who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being struck by a vehicle.
Personal Injury
California Bus Accident Lawyer
Hurt in a bus crash and unsure who is responsible? At Wilshire Law Firm — an award-winning, nationally recognized team — our attorneys help injured Californians pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact us 24/7 for a free case review with a legal professional — there are no fees unless you get paid.
- $3B+RECOVERED
- 7X"BEST LAW FIRM" AWARDS
- 24/7AVAILABILITY & SUPPORT
- 500+LEGAL PROFESSIONALS
Understanding Your Bus Accident Case
Explore essential resources on your rights, your options, and what to expect — everything you need to navigate the legal process, all in one place.
Wilshire Law Firm is an award-winning, nationally recognized team with extensive experience handling bus accident claims across California. Our attorneys investigate the crash, identify every liable party, handle the insurers and government entities involved, and build your case for maximum recovery — all with clear communication and compassionate support. There are no fees unless you get paid.
Most bus crashes trace back to preventable negligence. The leading causes we see include distracted or impaired driving, speeding and reckless operation, poor vehicle maintenance, unsafe road conditions, and negligent hiring or training of drivers. These failures can cause serious harm — including fractures, head trauma, and spinal cord injuries — and identifying who was negligent is central to your claim.
Injured bus passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists in California can generally recover both economic and non-economic damages. These commonly include medical expenses and rehabilitation (current and future), lost wages and lost future income, property damage, and pain and suffering. Because every case is unique, a legal professional can review your losses during a free case review.
Liability depends on the type of bus and who was negligent. Potentially responsible parties include the bus driver, the bus company or transit agency, a maintenance contractor, a vehicle or parts manufacturer, or another negligent motorist. Public buses in California are treated as common carriers and owe passengers a heightened duty of care under California Civil Code §2100, so more than one party is often at fault.
In most California bus accident cases you have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit (California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). Claims against a public transit agency or other government entity are subject to much shorter deadlines — generally you must file a government claim within six months under California Government Code §911.2. Because missing a deadline can end your case, it is best to speak with a legal professional early.
Meet Our Bus Accident Attorneys
Nationally-Recognized Powerhouse, Fighting for the Justice You Deserve
Our award-winning attorneys have recovered billions for clients while taking on insurance companies and major corporations.
Colin M. Jones, Esq.Senior Partner and Senior Trial Attorney, Chair of the Personal Injury Litigation Department
Jennifer P. Burkes, Esq.Senior Partner & Strategic Advisor, Personal Injury Litigation Department
Mary Lee Caruso, Esq.Senior Partner
Ryan Casey, Esq.Senior Partner and Trial Attorney
Tae-Yoon Kim, Esq.Senior Partner
Alivia E. Abreu, Esq.Partner
Shervin G. Ghanoongooi, Esq.Partner
Christopher Goodroe, Esq.Partner
Nathan A. GuestPartner and Trial Attorney
Brian M. Jacobson, Esq.Partner
Ariella Perry, Esq.Partner$28.5M
Recovery for victims of a rear-end collision involving a commercial truck.
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Recovery for a victim who suffered a traumatic brain injury due to unsafe property conditions.
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Recovery for a victim injured in a motorcycle accident.
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Recovery for victims injured in a collision involving a commercial truck.
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Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case is unique and evaluated on its own facts.
How Do I Know If I Have a Bus Accident Claim in California?
Three factors determine whether you have a valid bus accident claim — fault, damages, and proof. Fault means a driver, bus company, or other party's negligence caused the crash. Damages are your losses, such as medical bills, lost wages, and rehabilitation. Proof includes police reports, photos, maintenance records, and witness statements. California's statute of limitations applies — and shorter deadlines apply against public agencies — so contact Wilshire Law Firm for a free case review.
Start Your Free Bus Accident Case Review
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- Hablamos Español
- Nationally-Recognized Powerhouse Team
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No fees unless you get paid.
Record breaking results
Winners of #1 Settlements in California
Our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars, including some of the biggest settlements in California.
17#1 Settlements in California, 2022–2024*
TopVerdict #1TopVerdict.com #1 settlements
1–1 of 17
#1 Truck v. Pedestrian Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Multi-Vehicle Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Equipment Malfunction Settlement
2024
#1 Car v. Stationary Object Collision Settlement
2024
#1 Bus v. Passenger Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Whistleblower Retaliation Settlement
2023
#1 Underinsured Motorist Settlement
2023
#1 Slip & Fall Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Negligent Security Settlement
2023
#1 Ladder Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Hotel Premises Liability Settlement
2023
#1 Car v. Car Collision Settlement
2023
#1 Bicycle Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Pregnancy Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Age/Disability Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Wrongful Termination Settlement
2022
#1 Meal & Rest Breaks Settlement
2022
*#1 settlements in California have been awarded by TopVerdict.com. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Bus Accident FAQs
Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
We've answered the most common ones below. If yours isn't here, call us — we're available 24/7.
Depending on the facts, responsibility may fall on the bus driver, the private bus company or public transit agency that employed them, a maintenance contractor, another motorist, or a vehicle-parts manufacturer. Bus cases frequently involve more than one defendant, which can affect both strategy and the insurance available. An attorney can identify each potentially responsible party.
Yes. When a public agency operates the bus, you generally must file a written government claim within six months of the incident under Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2 before you can sue, and missing that deadline can bar your case. These claims move on a much faster timeline than ordinary injury claims, so act quickly.
Buses that carry passengers for hire are generally treated as common carriers, which under California law are held to a heightened duty to keep passengers safe. The precise common-carrier standard and the statutes defining it should be confirmed by an attorney for your situation. This higher standard can strengthen an injured passenger's claim.
For a private bus operator, most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1. If a public transit agency is involved, a six-month government-claim deadline applies first, so the effective timeline is far shorter. Confirm your specific deadline with an attorney because exceptions exist. Before you decide, you can also review our guide to hiring a car accident lawyer.